The Daily Yankeeland - 11/20

Plenty of praise and a few shots coming in today for Mike Mussina after word came out yesterday he would be calling it a career. Here's some of what's being said by the area writers:

Pete Abraham

Mike Lupica

Joel Sherman

George King

Mark Feinsand

Tyler Kepner


Moose held a press conference today in which he apologized to reporters for misleading them. He had intended 2008 to be his last season from the first day of Spring Training.

Nick Swisher was on with Mike Francesa the other day. He's quite a character. You can take a listen for yourself on WFAN's website.

Joe Girardi and Michael Kay were among the honorees at Tuesday night's "Remember When, Remember Now" fundraiser for Alzheimer's Disease. Girardi's dad suffers from the hideous disease. MLB.com's Bryan Hoch had a chance to talk to the manager about the 2009 season.

Phil Coke was named to the Topp's Double-A All Star team. Do you get free baseball cards?

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The Daily Yankeeland - 10/8

It's been a few days, but we were under the weather and then had to catch up on our day job. The league championship series are set, Mariano Rivera had his surgery, and the winter leagues are underway.

First and foremost, Mariano Rivera is doing well after Tuesday's surgery to remove bone spurs from his right shoulder. He should be able to start throwing in January.

Jon Heyman was on with Mike Francesca the other day. Among the topics of discussion was Joe Girardi's difficulties with the media. Peter Abraham also points out that Tony Pena was marginalized, because Girardi liked to lean on "his coaches" (Meacham, Harkey, etc.).

Another strange twist in the Yankees closing ceremony plans- there won't be any. The Yankees have decided that the finale on September 21 was a fitting end. Which means that the Giants, boxing, etc., will not be acknowledged.

Ross Newhan of the LA Times wrote a nice piece on Don Mattingly's contribution to the Dodgers' success.

Harvey Araton of the NY Times says Joe Torre bleeds Dodgers blue, but has a Pinstripe undershirt.

Derek Jeter's spikes and bat are among new items featured in the baseball Hall of Fame.

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You can't be Sirius?

Mad Dog is officially on board at Sirius radio. The announcement came down this morning. "Siriusly", what are these people thinking? Mad Dog Radio? An entire station? Sirius stock should start plummeting (farther) soon.

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Francesa on the Move Too

No, Mike Francesa is not bailing on WFAN like his tongue-tied partner. But according to the Daily News' Bob Raissman, Francesa's show will be leaving the YES Network when the current contract expires. According to Raissman, Francesa already has a deal in place with MSG to switch the show over there.

The MSG Network took a huge hit with the loss of the Yankees, and though this clearly won't make up for it, it adds some better attention to MSG than Isaiah Thomas' missteps, and some additional revenue.

Raissman is also reporting that Chris Russo's deal with Sirius Satellite radio should be announced shortly. Russo hasn't been forthcoming with his plans, but he's been seen quite often at Sirius HQ.

Now the question is what will YES do with the time vacated by MMD? Since YES is already practically the Michael Kay network, they could simulcast his ESPN radio show, which runs from 3-7 P.M. EDT. That would still leave a gap from 1-3, which they could fill with yet another Yankees-Royals instant classic (sarcasm). They wouldn't be able to air Kay's entire show during the Yankees season since the pre-game show generally begins at 6 P.M..

It would also be hard to imagine that ESPN would allow one of its shows to be simulcast on another television network. YES hasn't been innovative in years so it will be interesting to see what transpires.

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Breaking News: Mike and the Mad Dog are no More

It's been speculated upon since the spring and now it is confirmed, the Mike and the Mad Dog Show on WFAN is no more. Operations director Mark Chernoff announced this evening that Christopher Russo, aka the Mad Dog, would be leaving the station to pursue other interests.

"Mike and Chris pioneered the genre more than 18 years ago and have shaped the sports talk format into what it is today," Mark Chernoff said in a statement.

"As we embark on this next step in WFAN's history, we wish Chris nothing but the best and look forward to all that Mike will do in a role in which he has excelled at for years.''

Though there is no official word as of yet, speculation is that Russo is headed towards Sirius Satellite radio. The station also announced a new contract for Francesa, whose deal was expiring.


Source: Newsday

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Mushnick Jabs Sterling

A lot of what Phil Mushnick says can be taken with a grain of salt, but he's usually on the money when it comes to criticizing the likes of John Sterling, Mike Francesca, and Chris Russo. Today's column took a shot at both, particularly at Sterling, though it had nothing to do with sticking his finger's in Wednesday's dessert.

THAT we should never expect better from John Sterling doesn't make it any easier. To be stuck in a car, forced to listen to the 20-year Voice of the New York Yankees describe a game, is to be the victim of a crime against baseball, broadcasting and the public trust.

Mushnick's remark concern a bang bang play at the plate in Monday's Yankees-Twins games. Bobby Abreu's throw home to Jose Molina easily arrived ahead of the runner, Brendan Harris, but moments later home plate ump Mike Everitt was signaling safe. Molina was livid, but replays showed that, in all likelihood, Molina missed the tag. That didn't stop the man Bob Raismann calls "Pa Yankee" from ripping Everitt and his brethren.

After all, Sterling said, once upon a time had Bobby Abreu charged that hit, fielded it cleanly, thrown a fastball strike to catcher Jose Molina, who then merely had to await the arrival of Harris before he tagged him out, Harris would have been called out.

There's nothing more annoying then the "the ball beat him" call in baseball. So maybe, just maybe, in this case the ump got it right. Suzyn Waldman, who is awful in her role as color commentator (partially due to the fact that Sterling never lets her speak), even pointed it out.

But stuck in a car with John Sterling, voice of the most famous team in sports, Harris was out by a mile. Mile, after mile, after mile, season after season, to be stuck in a car with Sterling is to be stuck like no other baseball fans, anywhere.

Mushnick also took a shot at the arrogant one, Francesa, for basically plagiarizing a Mike Vacarro column for his commentary on Johan Santana. Radio listeners have to realize that if Mike and the Mad Dog do go kaput, it's a good thing.

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Joba and Other Stuff

Let the pundits go at it again. The Yankees made it official last night, Joba Chamberlain is now in the transition phase of becoming a starting pitcher once again. What this means is that Mike Francesca will make your ears bleed for 5 hours today talking about what a mistake it is. Steve Phillips will go on the Michael Kay radio show and disperse his usual incorrect information. And the newspapers (Joel Sherman, Bill Madden, will go on about it for several days.

It's clear that this had to be done. Just how many 8th inning leads has there been to protect this year? The team is barely treading water and just because they've recovered the past couple of years to make the playoffs, doesn't mean it will happen this year. And if they do and make another quick first round exit will it even be beneficial to be a playoff team? With Phil Hughes struggling and injured, with Ian Kennedy unable to retire t-ball hitters, and Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina getting old and creaky, it was a move that had to be done.

Much to everyone's surprise Joe Girardi revealed that Joba will NOT be sent to the minors at all in the attempt to stretch out his arm and assist in the transition. Conceivably, Joba could become the long man in the pen until he's ready for more innings.

In more nonsensical news, the NY Post has a blurb stating that Derek Jeter's latest catch is Friday Night Lights star Minka Kelly.

Don't have a cow man. Both of the scheduled starters, Chien-Ming Wang and Felix Hernandez, for Saturday's Yankees-Mariners game are iffy with mild calf strains.

The Yankees will be ending their 11 year sponsorship deal with Adidas at the end of the season. They've signed a new 5 year mega deal that with Nike that will kick off in '09.

As part of their coverage of Asian Heritage Month, NY1 has a feature on Johnny Damon's work in the Asian community. Damon's mom is of Thai heritage and the Yankees left fielder takes pride in his background. He hopes to serve as a role model and wants to encourage Asian youngsters to play baseball. That being said, this quote almost sounds like he's stereotyping his own culture.

“I can spread the word and people are seeing now that an Asian ballplayer can be in front of a mic and when he talks people listen,” says Damon. “Asians who look at me probably think I talk well in front of a camera and hopefully it just gives them the courage and the confidence to do it themselves.”

While we appreciate Damon's heritage and his pride, he's never come across as particularly articulate or bright. His quote kind of backs that up.

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Friday Hot Stove

Seems like the Twins' beat writers are creating more havoc this winter than those covering the Yankees. Yesterday it was Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune stating the Twins were willing to do a deal with the Mets for 5 prospects, but the Mets were unwilling to include Fernando Martinez.

Mike Francesa, a legend in his own mind, said he spoke to a Mets official, who stated that no talks between the two teams had not included Jose Reyes. The official also felt a deal would be done within 2 weeks, with whichever team it happens.

Obviously all the teams are balking at unloading a bunch of prospects and then giving Santana a huge contract.

The Texas Rangers are said to be close to signing free agent pitcher Jason Jennings to a multi-year deal. Imagine that, the Rangers getting pitching.

The Mariners brought back Chris Reitsma with a minor league deal, and former Yankee Josh Phelps inked a minor league contract with the Cardinals.

The Rays brains are getting together to figure out whether to give the 3rd Base job to Evan Longoria or start out the stud prospect at Triple-A. Hopefully the Rays make better decisions than they have in the past.

Akinori Otsuka is undergoing elbow surgery though it is not known if it is Tommy John surgery. Why did he wait so long?

Tim Wakefield can relax (actually Jason Varitek can relax), the Red Sox have brought back his personal catcher, Doug Mirabelli, with a 1 year deal.

The Mariners have joined the Marlins in showing interest in Luis Gonzalez, especially if the M's decide to deal Adam Jones.

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Waffle Mike and the Indecisive Dog

If you read columns by Phil Mushnick and Bob Raissman, you know that they have an agenda against Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, a.k.a "Mike and the Mad Dog". But at times they are right on the money with their criticism, and that is the case with Mushnick's latest piece.

It describes the flip-flopping that the two bozos regularly do with their opinions and so-called expertise.

You'll want to read this, especially if you heard the Bergen Record's Ian O'Conner on the show last Friday.

SURPRISE, SURPRISE: FRANCESA, RUSSO BUTCHER TORRE STORY

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